David Saperstein (rabbi)

David Nathan Saperstein is an American rabbi, lawyer, and Jewish community leader who served as United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.[1][2] He previously served as the director and chief legal counsel at the Union for Reform Judaism's Religious Action Center for more than 30 years.[3]

This article is about the Rabbi. For the billionaire, see David I. Saperstein.
David Saperstein
United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
In office
January 6, 2015 – January 20, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded bySuzan Johnson Cook
Succeeded bySam Brownback
Personal details
Born (1947-08-05) August 5, 1947
New York City City
Alma materCornell University (BA)
Hebrew Union College (MHL)
American University (JD)

Early life and education

Saperstein was born in New York City. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University, Master of Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law at American University.[4]

Career

Saperstein succeeded Rabbi Richard G. Hirsch as leader of the Washington D.C.-based political lobbying arm of the North American Reform movement. There, he advocated on a broad range of social justice issues. He directed a staff who provided extensive legislative and programmatic materials to synagogues, federations and Jewish Community Relations Councils nationwide, coordinating social action education programs that train nearly 3,000 Jewish adults, youth, rabbinic and lay leaders each year.[3] He has been described as America's most influential rabbi.[5]

On July 28, 2014, President Obama nominated Saperstein to be the first non-Christian to hold the post of United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.[1] In December 2014 Saperstein's appointment to the post won U.S. Senate confirmation.[6][7]

He has co-chaired the Coalition to Preserve Religious Liberty,[8] and serves on the boards of the NAACP, Common Cause, and People For the American Way. In 1999, Saperstein was elected as the first Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.[9]

On August 28, 2008, Saperstein delivered the invocation at the Democratic National Convention's final session, before Senator Barack Obama accepted the party's nomination for president.[10] In February 2009, he was named to President Obama's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.[11] Saperstein is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center.[12]

Personal

He is married to award winning journalist Ellen Weiss and has two sons, David and Ari.[13]

He is a graduate member of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity.[14]

See also
  • Religious Action Center

References
  1. "Obama Names Rabbi David Saperstein As U.S. Ambassador For Religious Freedom, The Huffington Post, Lauren Markoe & Brian Pellot, 7/28/14
  2. Top 50 Influential Rabbis in America, newsweek.com, 4/11/08
  3. Official biography from rac.org.
  4. "President Obama Announces Another Key Administration Post". White House. July 2, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  5. Religious freedom: Rabbi to the rescue, The Economist.
  6. US Senate approves rabbi as freedom of faith envoy, The Times of Israel, December 15, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2014
  7. Rabbi David Saperstein confirmed as U.S. Ambassador for Religious Freedom, AL.com, December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014
  8. University, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown. "David Saperstein". berkleycenter.georgetown.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20070702013735/http://www.interfaithalliance.org/site/pp.asp?c=8dJIIWMCE&b=120697#Saperstein. Archived from the original on July 2, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2007. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. Democrats Pitch Big Tent in Bid To Draw in the Faithful, by Brett Lieberman, The Jewish Daily Forward, 8/28/08
  11. "The Appointees". The Washington Post. February 6, 2009. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
  12. Georgetown Law Faculty Profile page. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  13. "David Saperstein | Miller Center". millercenter.org. May 16, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  14. Jeff Sondhelm, President Obama Nominates Brother David Saperstein as Ambassador! TEP.org website December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Suzan Johnson Cook		 United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
2015–2017		 Succeeded by
Sam Brownback
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